Buckwheat, lentils, fenugreek, kiwi, pumpkin seeds, pine nuts and sunflower seeds could potentially be added to the 14-strong EU allergen list if the number of severe allergic reactions to these ingredients continues to grow.

Anaphylaxis Campaign founder David Reading said: "Allergies to seeds such as sunflower and pumpkin are increasingly being seen in clinics. But we're also hearing more about buckwheat."

Fenugreek, meanwhile, was "a hidden allergen" often used in products containing other allergens, he said. "People think they are reacting to peanuts in a curry when they might be reacting to fenugreek. 404 of our 7,400 members are also allergic to kiwi."

As there were more than 170 known food allergens, the criteria for deciding which ones should be added to the EU list had to be robust or the system could become unmanageable, said Unilever food allergy project leader Dr Stella Cochrane. "We can't protect every person from every allergic reaction. But the knowledge is there to apply a risk-based approach at a population level." Food allergies kill five to 10 people a year in the UK.